The Para badminton final held at the Sports Center 2 of the VIDENA was both epic and exciting! Raúl Anguiano achieved a milestone in the history of the Guatemalan Para sport, by claiming their first medal in the Parapan American Games.

On Friday Anguiano has already given a reason to celebrate to the Guatemalan people as he qualified to the finals and took a medal in the individual SL4 category. In the final, he dismissed 2-0 Oliveira, with partials of 21- 16 and 21-12, and could not hide his excitement for this victory and dedicated it to his family.

“It’s amazing. It’s a blessing. Winning a medal is both a huge honor and responsibility because when you are an athlete, you become a public figure,” said the current Parapan American champion.

They already knew each other, and the statistics were on the Guatemalan’s favor, which eventually reflected in the match result. “It’s the fifth time we face each other, and he’s improved a lot. He’s very talented, but I was more relaxed. I’m sure he’ll be a great champion too,” he stressed while his delegation friends cheered on him, just like they did during the match.

“Playing in an environment like this was very important for me. I had never had so much support. It’s exciting to listen to your friends from other sports, technical teams and managers encouraging you. This victory is not only mine; it’s also theirs because they were an essential part of the match,” he added.

Anguiano started playing when he was 10. He used to play conventional badminton until he discovered Para badminton and was considered the world’s number 1 at some point. At age 44, he arrived at Lima 2019 as flag bearer of his delegation and praised the growth of Para badminton in Peru. Meanwhile, Team Peru hopes to reach the top of the podium in Para badminton with Pedro Pablo de Vinatea. 

“I was the first player of this sport in our region. That’s how I met my friend Pedro Pablo de Vinatea. I’m happy to see Para badminton has grown a lot in Peru, and I’d like it to grow more in my country too, just like it’s happening here,” he concluded.

The Para athlete had previously obtained one victory and two losses. Therefore, the Peruvian Para badminton player Jesús Salvá knew that this was his chance to claim the bronze medal in the SS6 category, and he did not blow it.

In a tight match filled with emotions at the Sports Center 3 of the National Sports Village (VIDENA), located in the San Luis district, the Peruvian beat the Canadian Wyatt Lightfoot by 21-14, 14-21 and 21-9 after a 40-minute game.

Salvá even had to recover from a hit in his arm, but the crowd’s support got him to finish off the game. After his victory, he told Lima 2019 he was thrilled with his victory. He considered it a rematch since he had already faced Lightfoot in the quarterfinals of the last Pan Am Para Badminton Championships. “I did it,” stressed the Para athlete, letting go of all the emotion he had kept inside.

“There’s always the pressure that the victory may slip away (from your hands), but luckily I managed to get overcome this feeling and I won,” added Jesús, when talking about the sensations that he went through when his opponent evened the game 1-1.

ON THE ROAD TO TOKYO 2020

He also looked happy and grateful for the support he received from the fans during this decisive match and pointed out that he needs to train hard to obtain a ticket to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

“I want to be there, and I will be there,” concluded Jesús, another outstanding Peruvian Para athlete who added one more medal for Peru in the medal table of the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games.

On the other side, early on in the morning, our compatriot Pablo Cueto put in his best effort to claim the bronze medal in the SL4 category, with the support of the best fanbase in the world, who did not stop cheering on him from the stands of the Sports Center 3 at the VIDENA and chanting “Peru, Peru, Peru”. Unfortunately, he ended up losing 21-6 and 21-4 after a 17-minute game. 

Para badminton is a sport with a great participation of the Peruvian delegation in Lima 2019 Parapan American Games, because two Peruvian badminton players qualified to the semifinals in their respective categories.

This is the case of Pedro Pablo de Vinatea and Pilar Jauregui, who passed undefeated to this decisive stage of the competition in categories SL3 and WH2, respectively.  De Vinatea beat Cuban Rolando Bello in 36 minutes by 21-11 and 21-13 and will look to qualify to the final when he faces him again at 15:00.

Jauregui beat also Cuban Maydelin Soriano, in group A, with a score of 21-1 and 21-7 in just 17 minutes.  Now, she will seek to beat Soriano again.

PERUVIAN DAY

The Peruvian fanbase “La Blanquirroja” and many fans who gathered at the Sports Center 3 of the National Sports Village (VIDENA) in San Luis and cheered for the different Peruvian representatives playing today.

Héctor Salva despite losing to Brazilian Tavares by 21-7 and 21-6, never stopped receiving signs of support from the stands. The same thing happened with the Peruvian couple formed by Robert Fajardo and Ronald Miranda, who, after a great match, lost to the Brazilian duo formed by Cano and Soares 21-8 and 21-13.

The same happened to Peruvian Alberto Cadenillas, who lost to the Brazilian Cavalli (21-10 and 21-4). Pablo Cueto and Jenny Ventocilla in doubles faced up to the situation and fought until the end against Almeida and Rosso of Brazil. The game was very even, however, the Peruvian couple lost by (21-9 and 21-18).